Instrument for handling artificial teeth



T. STEELE.

INSTRUMENT FOR HANDUNG ARTIFICIAL TEETH. APPLICATTON FILED JUNE 5.1919. RENEWED NOV. 18. 1920.

1,369,718. Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

amvemtoz UNITED STA res I 'rnomns STEELE, oFcoLU BUs, 'oHIo, Assrenon'ro' riin cotumiznsnnnrni. I

rnc'runme COMPANY, or communes, 0111 a. con'ronn'rron :rnsriwnnnr ms: HANDLING AR IF CIAL TEETEQ To all a: ham it may concern v Be it known that I, THOMAS STEELE, a citizen of the United-States, residing at ,Golumbus, in the-county of Franklin'and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Instruments for Han dlingArtificial Teeth, of which the following is a specification.-

This invention relates to dental. instrument adapted for use in the handling of artificial teeth.

The object of the invention 1s to provide an improved dental instrument in themture of an artificial tooth holder, and by means of which an operator may quickly, easily. and precisely compare the color, conformation and symmetry of an art fic al tooth with teeth, either natural or artificlal .whichit is intended to matchor conform.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a tooth holder for the purpose stated wherein is embodied amain handle member and an adjustable tooth holding section, the latter being plvotally mounted upon one end of the handle member, so that a tooth retained thereby may be caused to assume any desired angular position best calculated to permit of ease in comparison with adjoining or companion teeth.

constructing the pivoted section in "such manner that a tooth may be easily and quickly connected therewith and in a lllre manner to be conveniently detached, and 1n the provision of means for securely retaining a tooth against accidental displacement when supported upon the pivoted section.

For a further understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and to the accompanying drawing, in which similar characters of reference denote like and corresponding parts throughout the several views thereof.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the 1mproved tooth holder comprising the preferred form of the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a side or edge elevation thereof, Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken along the plane disclosed by the line mw of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4: is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 50-00 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the holder, and j 1 e 'animproved Other objects of the inventionreside in cr m-3.

Renewed November-18,1920. Serial No. 425,030.

pivotedfisection and companion partsiofthe Specification f Letters lf t Patented Feb. 2211 921. Application medium 5,1919, Serial No. 302,015.

; Fig: 6 -is a similar? view .of an fartifi'ci'al tooth Referring more particularly;tothe strucprisingjfthe present invention, ,use ismade such as celluloid, althoughanylothersuitablematerial may be utilizedr This handle p e f being supported bythe i' .holder.

tural details of the improved holder comof a main handle member A, which is-pref- I -erably fori-ned from alight flexible material,

member maybe of anydesired configuration or of any "sultable length- The forward-end of the handle member. is angularlyoffset,as

shown, and terminates in'a relatively short apertured pivotingear. A rivet 'or'the like C passes through theaperture .ofsaid ear and also through a registering; aperture formedln a pivoted tlp sectionlB, in order that the latter maybe securely connected with the offset endof said handle member and yet to be capable of assuming relatively angular positions with respect thereto, as is shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The tip section has its outer end equipped with a tooth holding memberD which may consist of a metallic anchor strip bent upon itself to provide a substantially enlarged rib portion and a reduced shank extremity, the

latter being in turn suitably secured to the tip section-in the manner indicated in Figs. 3 aud t. In the present instancetheholding member is so formed as to be capable of fitting within asimilarly formed longitudinally extending slot F provided in the rear face ofan artificialtooth F, whichin practice isnormally used for-the purpose of securingthe tooth in an applied position within a denture, hence the holding member 'D is simllarjin construction-andshape to the inlay, so termed in the dental art. As is usual, -the slotF is open at one end, so that the tooth may be readily slipped into engagement with the member D. and thus retained in a well secured manner upon the tip section. Preferably, the latter is formed with a boss E which is of a substantially resilient nature and furnishes an abutment for the lower end of thetooth when the latter is situated upon the holding member, the'refore,the boss servesto retain the tooth in its applied position in connection with the holder and prevents its accidental dis- 7 placement. However, by mere pressure the tooth held by the member D may be forced over the boss E and thus easily disconnected W from engagement with the tip section; From the'foregoing it Wlll be manifest thatthe present invention provides an improved holder forsupporting artificial teeth of the. type wherein are provided longitudinally extending inlayreceiving slots, and furthermore the holder is of such construction as to permit the tooth supported thereby to be adjusted in such manner as to assume angular positions with respect to the main handle of the holder, in order that convenience and facility may be obtained in properly placing the tooth into such positions as will best permit of its comparison with companion teeth. By offsetting oneend of the handle A, the holder'is shape so that the same will conform to the physical peculiarities of the mouthofa patient and by being thus offset willenable a tooth supported thereby to be easily placed in contiguous relationship with adjoining teeth. T e holding or anchor member D is of such construction as to interchangeably receive artificial teeth of the solid variety, and by the provision of the boss Ejsecurity will be obtained effecting the positive retention of teeth upon the tip section. The holder is preferably formed from celluloid'or any tained in a sanitary condition. s

other equivalent substancef in that it may be readily cleansed and easily main- NVhat Ifclaim is 1. An artificial toothho'lder' comprising a handle member, a tip section pivotally connected with said handle member, and an t a elongated anchor rim carried by said tip sectionand of such form as to becapable of said handle member and capable of. assuming relatively angular positions withrespect thereto, means carrled bysaid t1p section for removably receiving artificial teeth, and s a boss formed upon saidrtip section and ar- 40 interchangeably receiving .artificia l teeth ranged for cooperation with atooth carried 5 by said holding means for retaining said tooth in an applied positionupon said tip section.

I In testimony whereof I 'afiix my signature.

i THOMAS STEELE. I 

